Eleven.

Mary Anne

Kristy could not stop yawning.

It was maybe three hours after I got home. Claudia had gone to bed, as well as Alan. Stacey and Mallory had come rolling in about two hours ago, ignoring us as they entered the house. Kristy, Dawn and I remained on the porch, talking occasionally, but mostly staring out at the waves. Kristy started yawning about an hour ago, but made no move to go to bed.

I'm starting to get a headache. My buzz wore off long ago. I'm actually craving another drink... it would probably stop my head from hurting.

Kristy stiffled another yawn and looked over at me. "So," she said casually, "what'd you do with Trent?"

This is about the eighth time she's asked. I made a face at her and didn't answer.

I would be more than happy to kiss and tell if I could actually remember what happened. Before my cell phone woke me up the last thing I remember was Trent laughing and dancing while he took his shirt off. He was doing a striptease. And that's it. I don't remember his shorts coming off and I certainly don't know how my top ended up on the floor. I do know I didn't sleep with him.

At least there's that.

I thought about what I had said to Dawn in the bathroom earlier. It was stupid drunk logic, but it did still make a little sense to me. I like drinking because I'm a very uptight person and it just relaxes me. I think I would rather be able to relax and enjoy myself and deal with all the emotional stuff later. Logan messed up my head pretty bad as far as sex goes, I'm a logical enough person to admit that. If I do it for the first time in a rational state of mind I'll end up crying and freaking whatever poor guy it happens to be with.

Then there's Stacey.

I don't know what she is up to. She had to have known I kind of liked Trent. I don't understand why she would try to steal him from me. Or could it be possible she just had blinders on? Stacey can be a little airheaded at times. I love her, I really do, but she can be. She's very smart, but she also says rude things and doesn't seem to realize it. Stacey's little brain farts are something I've learned to put up with and ignore over the past few years. I also don't get why she's hanging out with Mallory all of a sudden. Stacey knows what I think Mallory is doing... is Mallory trying to take my friend as well as my ex?

I've stopped talking about Mallory and Logan. Everyone was starting to look at me like I was crazy or something. I have not stopped thinking about it. I know there is something going on there, and now I kind of want to prove it so everyone stops thinking I'm a nut.

Kristy yawned again, loudly this time. Dawn sighed. "Kristy, go to bed."

"Nah."

"Then go sleep on the couch, you're driving me insane. Are you actually scared of sleeping in the same bed as Alan Gray?"

Kristy slumped down in her seat, frowning. "No. I'm not scared. I'm... nervous."

"Why be nervous?" I asked her. "He's dead asleep."

She shrugged. "I--" She started, then stopped suddenly, rethinking what she was going to say. "He's getting antsy. Already. I can see it. I think the two of us sleeping in the same bed kind of tells him that I'm willing to have sex with him." She stopped again. "Which I am. But I want to wait. Sort of."

Dawn shook her head. "Never thought I would see the day Kristy Thomas would be so unsure about things."

"Oh, you should have seen me a year ago..." She muttered. We waited for her to elaborate, but she didn't.

Dawn stood up. "Well I don't know about you two, but I'm going to bed. The hour is insane."

I glanced at my cell phone in my lap. Three twenty six a.m. Yikes. My head throbbed. "Actually... " I said, giving Kristy a guilty look, "sleep sounds pretty good."

Kristy nodded. "It's okay, I'm exhausted. I'll just go... he probably won't even know I'm there." She gave a forced chuckle. I smiled at her wearily.

My head pounded.

Sleep. It will do me good.

I awoke with a start, confused. The bright sunlight filled my head and I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut again. Why did I wake up?

I covered my head with the comforter and attempted to go back to sleep. Until I heard it.

The quiet, muffled ring of my cell phone.

I sat up again, squinting against the harsh light. Throwing off the blanket I listened carefully, and zeroed in on the floor. It has to be under Trents shirt.

Trents shirt. God. Groaning, I lifted the shirt gingerly and found my phone nestled in on of the cups of my bikini top. The display says "Daddy," and I groan again.

"Hi, Dad." I answer unenthusiastically.

"Hi, sweetie. Did I wake you?"

"Yeah... yes. What time is it?"

"A little after seven."

Sometimes I'm positive my father has forgotten what it's like to be young. "Seven, huh?" I say a little sarcastically.

"Late night?"

"You don't want to know. So what's up?"

"I just wanted to check up on you girls. Is Dawn behaving?"

Dawn is not my baby-sitting charge. "Of course she is." I lie, because lying to my father has become so easy.

"Good. I'll let you get some sleep. Sharon may call later to talk to Dawn. I've got work to do--"

And he was gone. I rolled my eyes and set my phone on the nightstand. The only reason he had called was to ask that single question about Dawn, and he, of course, trusted my answer completely. Sometimes I feel like walking up to my father with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other just to see if he'd notice.

I rolled out of bed and dug through my suitcase. I'm up, might as well start the day. I removed a tight pink tank top and jean shorts. Stripping out of my nightclothes, I thought about Trent, and what I did. Bits and pieces flash to me. Trent jumping on the bed with me after his striptease, Trent kissing me on the bed, Trent untying my bikini behind my neck... nothing too terrible. I have a feeling we both passed out not long after that.

I make my way to the kitchen where I discover, not shockingly, that nobody else is awake. I put on a pot of coffee and step out to the porch for a cigarette. Every time I open a new pack I swear to myself it will be my last, but I keep buying new ones. I'm amazed at how quickly I've become a smoker.

I half-expect to find Kristy still sitting out there, but thankfully she isn't. Sitting down, I take the opportunity to stretch and wake up. Just as I'm bending over to touch my toes, I hear the crash of glass bottles from next door. I look over and spot Trent piling bags into the trash can. He's dressed in board shorts, no shirt, and sunglasses. Not even shoes. I seriously contemplate running and hiding, but I guess he sensed me because only seconds after I spotted him he looked directly at me.

Even from about thirty feet away I can see his white teeth as he smiles at me. He drops one more bag into the can and tosses the lid on top - then heads toward me.

Jeez. What am I going to say? You look great naked, Trent. Can you tell me why I was?

"Good morning." He says with another smile as he ascends the steps. "Can I bum on of those?"

I hand him my cigarettes and lighter wordlessly, and he lights one. As he hands the pack back to me he leans down and kisses my cheek. I feel myself blushing.

"Did you just wake up?" I ask him as he sits down.

"A little while ago, yeah. Only meant to get a drink, but I saw how messed up the house was..." He shrugged. "Mary Anne, I'm sorry I passed out last night," He said with a chuckle. "I drank a lot. I've been kind of going over what I was going to say to you since I woke up, and I figure I may as well just apologize."

"Oh, that's... that's okay. I think I passed out around the same time as you."

He laughed again. "You're so sweet. But I remember pretty well. You were still up and rearing to go and I just... " He sighed and touched my leg softly. "You're so sexy, Mary Anne." He said in a low, sultry voice that gave me goosebumps. "I want you to know that. I've been kicking myself in the ass since I woke up for drinking so much."

By now I get what happened. We were going to have sex and he crashed on me. A million thoughts ran through my head, from thank God! to too bad. Trent was looking at me somewhat expectantly. "Oh!" I cried, realizing why. "Really, don't worry about it. I'm not. I've forgotten already." I said with a smile.

Well it's the truth.

He relaxed somewhat and put out his cigarette. "Well," he said, standing up, "I'm going to take a shower. To be continued." He winked.

I smiled at him, slightly unsure of what I was doing. Am I leading him on or being friendly? I honestly don't know.

I smell coffee and put out my own cigarette. I had almost forgotten I was making it.